French Austral Lands and Seas
Natural
1603
2019
Natural
Description
The French Austral Lands and Seas comprise the largest of the rare emerged landmasses in the southern Indian Ocean: the Crozet Archipelago, the Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul and Amsterdam Islands as well as 60 small sub-Antarctic islands. This ‘oasis’ in the middle of the Southern Ocean covers an area of more than 166 million ha and supports one of the highest concentrations of birds and marine mammals in the world. In particular, it has the largest population of King Penguins and Yellow-nosed albatrosses in the world. The remoteness of these islands from centres of human activity makes them extremely well-preserved showcases of biological evolution and a unique terrain for scientific research.
Inscription details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| WHS ID | 1603 |
| Inscribed | 2019 |
| Category | Natural |
| Criteria | (vii)(ix)(x) |
| State party | France |
| Transboundary | No |
| French name | Terres et mers australes françaises |
Protected monuments
| Monument | Commune | Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Maison à pans de bois | Amboise | 1949 |
| Tour d'Argent (ancien Hôtel des Monnaies des Comtes de Blois) | Blois | 1926 |
| Hôtel de Aubigny-sur-Nère | Aubigny-sur-Nère | 2006 |
| Château des Arcis (également sur commune de Le Buret) | Meslay-du-Maine | 2006 |
| Menhir dit de la Ville-l'Evêque | Berchères-sur-Vesgre | 1887 |
| Dolmen dit Dolmen de la Forêt | Gennes | 1990 |
| Chapelle du Moulinet (ancienne) | Château-Gontier | 1976 |
| Ancienne abbaye Saint-Pierre, actuellement Centre Hospitalier spécialisé | Chezal-Benoît | 1908 |
| Eglise de Pirmil | Pirmil | 1912 |
| Chapelle de Bethléem de Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau | Saint-Jean-de-Boiseau | 1911 |
| Château de Blanville de Saint-Luperce | Saint-Luperce | 1969 |
| Eglise du Vieux Bourg | Lusanger | 1997 |
| "Logis seigneurial dit "" château de Clefs "" ou manoir de Toury" | Clefs | 1998 |
| Maison de Richelieu | Richelieu | 1932 |
| Logis de Crémaillé la Roche | Miré | 1996 |
Loire appellations
| Appellation | Avg score | Reviews | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sancerre | 89.3 | 554 | White |
| Muscadet Sèvre et Maine | 88.6 | 237 | White |
| Pouilly-Fumé | 89.6 | 153 | White |
| Vouvray | 88.4 | 153 | White |
| Touraine | 86.3 | 85 | White |
| Chinon | 88.7 | 72 | Red |
| Menetou-Salon | 87.3 | 69 | White |
| Crémant de Loire | 87.5 | 54 | Sparkling |
| Val de Loire | 85.6 | 41 | White |
| Saumur | 88.4 | 40 | White |
| Anjou | 87.6 | 36 | White |
| Rosé d'Anjou | 84 | 35 | Rosé |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Updated: April 14, 2026.